A group of Mexican writers, intellectuals and artists have issued an open letter to Gov. Patricio Patrón Laviada of Yucatan state demanding the release of 22 people still being held in Mérida after being arrested at the March 13 protests against the visit of George Bush to the colonial city. Signed by Paco Ignacio Taibo II, Carlos Monsiváis and others, the letter charges that the 22, as well as 26 others already released, were subject to "torture, ill-treatment, incommunicado detention and denial of the right to adequate legal defense." (La Jornada, April 26)

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